MS in Applied Data Science & International Studies

The Master of Science in Applied Data Science & International Studies (MSADS) program trains you in strategic analysis, leveraging CGU’s world-class expertise and scholarship in the latest computational, behavioral, visualization, and data-driven decision-making techniques for both public and private sectors.

MSADS students are exposed to various social science theories, domains, process, and methods knowledge to help them understand and predict human uncertainty across politics, economics, and business behaviors. You will gain a distinct competitive advantage in your professional career through understanding and using these political, economic, statistical, big data, and data analytics tools to solve public and private sector problems. Topics covered in the MSADS program span national policy development, business strategy, conflict and cooperation, income inequality, economic growth, trade, exchange rates, demographic change, and sustainable development.

Program Highlights

An individualized curriculum lets you customize your program experience to more effectively achieve your career goals.

Benefit from CGU’s reputation for extensive expertise in solving real world challenges across politics, business, economics, and policy, using data science for governments and corporations

Choose specializations in areas of professional interest, including business, health, evaluation, and environmental issues

Pursue an MS in conjunction with another degree, such as an MS in Information Systems & Technology. You earn a diploma for each degree and “double count” some units from one program to the other to decrease your required total units.

Program At a Glance

Featured Courses

PP/INTL 401

World Politics

Provides a broad survey of competing perspectives on international relations.

IST 344

Data Analytics & Information Visualization

Gives students the opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the important principles and techniques for translating organizational data into visual stories that can be used by managers to make data-driven decisions.

SPE 471

Strategic Modeling for Politics, Economics & Business

Introduces students to decision making and the strategy process through multiple techniques, creating a strategy toolkit with applications in politics, economics, and business.

SPE 411

International Political Economy

Prepares students to analyze the complex interactions between political and economic trends, both domestically and at the international level.

SPE 448

Seminar in Social Network Analytics

Explores social network analysis, including the measurement and structure of networks, the collection and analysis of network data, and network modeling.

SPE 317

Advanced Formal Models

Examines the mechanics of a variety of formal models—including their underlying logic, implementation, and application—and explores game theory, spatial bargaining, social network analysis, and more.

Curriculum

Students can choose a track from among a large number of social science and behavioral applications. The core program focuses on domain theories across international economics, world politics, security, international political economy, and regional comparative politics. Students are encouraged to choose specializations in areas of professional interest including business, health, evaluation, or environmental issues.

An individualized curriculum should be developed early on in consultation with your faculty advisor, as the career path you wish to pursue upon graduation heavily influences the selection of elective courses and research tools.

Electives (8 units)Security
World Politics
Seminar in Conflict & Peace or
Seminar in Civil War
Seminar in Deterrence and Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

International Political Economy
International Political Economyand
Political Economy of International Development or
Seminar in Political Demography or Seminar in Social Demography
Political Economy of China

Foreign Policy (Choose two classes within a region)
Foreign Policy USA
Foreign Policy of Latin America
Foreign Policy of the Middle East
Foreign Policy of Africa
Foreign Policy of Europe
Foreign Policy of East Asia
Foreign Policy of South East Asia